Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 30

DO SHEEP WORRY?

From: July 30, 2024

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1 ESV).

When he wrote this psalm, King David must have been reflecting on his youth when he shepherded his father’s flock. As he remembered how the sheep trusted and depended on him as their shepherd, he wrote of his determination to depend on the Lord in the same way.

David wrote, “The LORD is “my” shepherd.” David’s heart was in submission to the Lord. He looked to the Lord as “his” shepherd and saw himself as the Lord’s lamb. Because of this relationship, David said, “I shall not want.”

“Shall” is a modal or auxiliary verb, which means it combines with a main verb and changes the tense of the verb. In this case, giving “want” a future time reference, so that it might be read as, “I do not plan to, intend to, expect to… be in want.” Why? “Because the Lord is my shepherd.”

I wonder. Do sheep worry? Does concern for tomorrow steal their joy today? Does anxiety for food and shelter rob them of sleep? No. I think not. They trust their shepherd. He is their source and guide. They know his voice and they follow him.

Have you decided to trust the Lord with all your wants and desires? Can you say with David, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want”?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we look to Your Son Jesus as our Great Shepherd. For He is the good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. He knows us and we know Him. We are listening for His voice this day. Lord speak. For your servants are listening. Lord lead, guide and direct and we will follow. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “PUT ON” CHRIST?

From: July 30, 2023

“Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires” (Romans 13:14 NLT).

First, isn’t there the necessity of putting off our old clothes? Certainly, this is what the Word teaches. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says to “put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:8-9). So, putting off the old nature precedes putting on the new.

Second, we put on the new nature, which is ours in Jesus Christ. Earlier in Romans, Paul described this as putting on the “shining armor of right living” (Rom. 13:12). Again in Colossians, Paul described being clothed in Christ as putting “on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10).

This new nature features many beautiful articles of spiritual clothing. Paul writes, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:12-14).

Having received Christ as Savior, let us put off the old nature and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we might resist temptation and always walk in Him. Both this putting off and putting on can only be done with God’s help, so let us do so by His grace.

PRAYER: Lord, teach us to put off the old nature and to put on the new. Our new nature is Christ. So empower us to put off the old and to put on Christ. We want to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. So that we reflect Your glory and light into this world of darkness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11 NLT).

From: July 30, 2022

SPIRITUAL AND GOSPEL URGENCY

The apostle Paul urged believers to get serious about their faith because of the lateness of the hour. This calls for spiritual urgency, because we must put off sin and any hindrance that belongs to the flesh, so that we might finish the race of life well. It calls for gospel urgency, because “time is running out” on those who haven’t heard and received the Good News that we are called to announce.

Are you living with a sense of spiritual and gospel urgency?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our tendency for procrastination. We tend to put off important things and twiddle away our days. Help us to get a holy urgency to proclaim the gospel and live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires” (Romans 13:14 HCSB).

From: July 30, 2021

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “PUT ON” CHRIST?

First, isn’t there the necessity of putting off our old clothes? Certainly, this is what the Word teaches us. Some of the articles of the old clothes are listed by Paul where he teaches us to “put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:8-9). So, putting off the old nature precedes putting on the new.

Second, we can put on the new nature, which is ours in Jesus Christ. Earlier in Romans, Paul described this as putting on the “shining armor of right living” (Rom. 13:12). Again in Colossians Paul described being clothed in Christ as putting “on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10). This new nature features many beautiful articles of spiritual clothing. How many do you see in the following list?

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:12-14).

Having received Christ as Savior, let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we might resist temptation and always walk in Him.

PRAYER: Lord, teach us to put off the old nature and to put on the new. Our new nature is Christ. So empower us to put off the old and to put on Christ. We want to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. So that we reflect Your glory and light into this world of darkness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14 NLT).

From: July 30, 2019

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CLOTHED IN CHRIST?

What does it mean to be “clothed in Christ?” This is a most worthy meditation.

First, isn’t there the necessity of putting off our old clothes? Certainly, this is what the Word teaches us. Some of the articles of the old clothes are listed by Paul where he teaches us to “put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:8-9). So, putting off the old nature precedes putting on the new.

Second, we can put on the new nature, which is ours in Jesus Christ. Earlier in Romans, Paul described this as putting on the “shining armor of right living” (Rom. 13:12). Again in Colossians Paul described being clothed in Christ as putting “on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10). This new nature features many beautiful articles of spiritual clothing. How many do you see in the following list?

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:12-14).

PRAYER: Lord, teach us to put off the old nature and to put on the new. Our new nature is Christ. So empower us to put off the old and to put on Christ. We want to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. So that we reflect Your glory and light into this world of darkness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:10 NLT).

From: July 30, 2018

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW

Paul worked out the implications of what it means to love one’s neighbor by naming four of the Ten Commandments (“Thou shalt not kill, commit adultery, steal nor covet”), and concluding that love fulfills them and all other such commandments. The positive commandment to “love thy neighbor” fulfills all the negative commandments not to wrong others.

Loving one another is the mark of the redeemed community. For Jesus taught that we are to “love one another as He has loved us and that by this everyone will know that we are His disciples” (John 13:34-35).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1 ESV)

From: July 30, 2016

I wonder. Do sheep worry? Does concern for tomorrow steal their joy today? Does anxiety for food and shelter rob them of sleep? No. I think not. They trust their shepherd. He is their source and guide. They know his voice and they follow him. This is the relationship that the shepherd king David wrote of concerning he and the Lord. The Lord was “his” shepherd and he was the Lord’s lamb. The one who would humble themselves like a lamb and entrust themselves to God as shepherd, shall not be in want. For the Lord will meet all their needs. Are you in want today? Look to the Shepherd.

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11 NKJV)

From: July 30, 2015

Spiritual and gospel urgency. Spiritual urgency, because we must put off sin and any hindrance that belongs to the flesh, so that we might finish the race of life well. Gospel urgency, because “time is running out” on those who haven’t heard and received the Good News that we are called to announce. Are you living with a sense of spiritual and gospel urgency?

“But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:16)

From: July 30, 2012

Uzziah started out a great and godly king, but he didn’t finish well. Once humbly dependent on God, success went to his head. He spent his final years leprous and alone. When you are blessed don’t forget the God that blesses. Remember the One who made you and gave you all that you have. How do you want to finish this life?

“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:16)

From: July 30, 2011

Becoming king of Judah at age 16, he reigned 56 years, longer than any other, but he didn’t finish well. How you finish is more important than how you start. Christ followers shouldn’t retire when old. They should give themselves fully to Kingdom work.